What if I told you that beneath this seemingly ordinary suburb of Prague lies a cosmic secret? Welcome to Háje. It is a district with a captivating story that stretches far beyond the borders of the Czech Republic.
Háje is part of Prague 11. It holds a unique place in Czech history and even in the history of space exploration. Founded in the 18th century, Háje was once a part of Hostivař. It became integrated into Prague in 1968. This area underwent a dramatic transformation. In 1971 the construction of Jižní Město began. It is the largest housing estate in the Czech Republic. The construction significantly altered Háje’s landscape.
The biggest change saw most of the old village demolished. It was then replaced with panel buildings known locally as paneláky. But there is more to Háje than just its urban development. Its connection to space exploration is truly remarkable.
The metro station here shares the same name as the suburb, Háje. Line C passes through it. The station’s history is intertwined with Czechoslovakia’s involvement in the Soviet Interkosmos program. It is a program that allowed Vladimír Remek to become the first cosmonaut. He was the first person outside the Soviet Union or United States to enter orbit.
Originally, the Háje metro station was named Kosmonautů. It means station of the Cosmonauts. This name honored Remek’s pioneering spaceflight in 1978. In front of the metro station stands a sculpture of Remek alongside Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei Gubarev. The sculpture serves as a reminder of this significant moment in history. Identical copies of this sculpture existed elsewhere. One was at a school in Kroměříž. The other was at the Military Air Academy in Košice, Slovakia.
Street names around Háje further reinforce the area’s space theme. You can find Cosmos Street, Arkalyk Street, and Baikonur Street. Arkalyk is named after the town where astronauts landed upon returning to Earth. Baikonur references the cosmodrome from which Remek launched into space.
Even the metro vestibule features a mosaic depicting space exploration. This artwork reflects the public’s fascination with space travel during the station’s construction. The Háje metro station has unique architectural features. One oddity includes a flight of stairs. You must ascend these before descending to reach the street when exiting the east vestibule.
Háje metro station also holds a petrol station beneath its eastern vestibule. Also, the station’s design includes aluminum panels. These panels are a nod to the more elaborate stations in central Prague.
Today, Háje stands as a testament to Prague’s ever-evolving identity. The district covers 2.36 square kilometers. It has a population of over 22,000. This area is a vibrant mix of residential and commercial activity. Háje offers a glimpse into both the past and the future. From its humble beginnings as a village to its role in space exploration. Háje continues to surprise and inspire. As you leave Háje, remember that even the most unassuming places can hold extraordinary stories. They connect us to the wider world and the cosmos beyond.